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Nitrogen fertiliser prices started to recover in September, and the pace of the recovery is exceeding our expectations. The current price level allows us to have an optimistic outlook for Q4 and 2017 results".

APPENDIX

Notes on Key Items in the Financial Statements

Financial Performance

The Group posted 9M 2017 revenue of RUB 69,289 million, up 4% year-on-year. In the reporting period, average indicative dollar prices for nitrogen fertilisers were up 0%-14% year-on-year, while prices for complex fertilisers fell 14%. Sales of key products were up 17% year-on-year. However, the average dollar-rouble exchange rate for 9M 2017 was 15% lower year-on-year.

Average Indicative Prices, USD/t, FOB Baltics/Black Sea

9M 2017

9M 2016

Change

NPK 16-16-16

263

304

-13.6%

AN

185

162

+13.6%

UAN

140

140

-0.2%

Urea

211

191

+10.8%

Ammonia

262

251

+4.1%

Amid a 17% increase in sales volumes, the cost of sales was up 19% to RUB 37,774 million affected mainly by higher depreciation and amortisation as a result of Ammonia-4 launch in the mid-2016. At the same time, the increase in cash costs did not exceed 10% due to smart cost management.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were down 12% to RUB 5,093 million due to cuts in personnel costs, since some salaries are denominated in foreign currency, including at the Group's foreign facilities. Transportation expenses were up 9% to RUB 10,310 million due to increased sales volumes and indexation of railway tariffs in Russia.

EBITDA for 9M 2017 was RUB 21,620 million, down 3% year-on-year. In dollar equivalent, EBITDA was up 13% to USD 371 million from USD 327 million. EBITDA margin was 31% against 33% year-on-year. Veliky Novgorod-based Acron, Dorogobuzh and NWPC operated at margins of 31%, 28% and 33%, respectively.

Based on 9M 2017 results, the Group posted a net exchange loss of RUB 14 million due to a revaluation of assets, loans and liabilities, against a gain of RUB 3,074 million year-on-year.

In the reporting period, the Group posted a RUB 10,135 million net profit, against RUB 21,423 year-on-year. Net profit for 9M 2016 was positively affected by a number of one-offs, including:

A RUB 5,406 million gain on disposal of investments, primarily due to the sale of the Company's stake in Uralkali

A RUB 3,268 gain posted when the Group ceased using the equity method to account for its stake in Grupa Azoty S.A.

A RUB 1,544 million share of profit of Grupa Azoty S.A., formed while the equity method was used.

Cash Flow

In 9M 2017, net operating cash flow was up 27% to RUB 13,375 million (9M 2016: RUB 10,555 million). Due to an increase in sales, working capital was up RUB 1,854 million (up RUB 1,348 million in 9M 2016).

Net cash used in investing activities in the reporting period was RUB 8,031 million, against RUB 5,093 million in 9M 2016. Capital expenditures were down 17% year-on-year to RUB 8,181 million (9M 2016: RUB 9,900 million) due to completion of the active phase of the investment cycle. Net cash flow from investments for 9M 2016 was supported by proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale investments.

Net cash used in financing activities in 9M 2017 was RUB 13,034 million, against RUB 11,214 million in 9M 2016. Cash outflow in the reporting period was due to an excess of repayments over borrowings obtained in the previous year.

Debt Burden

In 9M 2017, total debt was down 10% to RUB 71,062 million. The share of long-term debt increased to 93%, from 50% at the beginning of the year. Net debt was RUB 52,061 million, almost unchanged against net debt as of 31 December 2016. Net debt/LTM EBITDA was 1.8, up from 1.7 at the beginning of the year. In dollar equivalent, the ratio decreased to 1.8 from 1.9 at the beginning of the year.

Market Trends

Nitrogen fertiliser prices had recovered considerably by the end of Q3. Urea prices rose from USD 180 FOB in early July to USD 260 in late September, driven by strong demand, in particular from Brazil and India. For example, Brazil's urea imports over the first nine months of 2017 were up 41% year-on-year. Brazil's total imports this year may reach a record high of 5 mn t. In September and October, India made active purchases in the market. Due to good weather conditions in the country, fertilisers have been applied heavily this year. At the same time, higher coal prices have led to increased production costs in China, forcing producers there to raise prices. As a result, urea exports from China decreased by 4 mn t to 3.5 mn t over the first nine months of 2017. Total exports may reach 4.5 mn t, compared to 8.9 mn t in 2016. Nevertheless, goods exported from China find a ready market and China's production costs continue to support global prices. Thus, the existing combination of demand and supply factors provide strong support for urea prices.

Driven by rising urea prices, prices for other nitrogen fertilisers - AN and UAN - also went up at the end of the third quarter. In October, average AN and UAN prices were USD 230 and USD 160 FOB Baltics, whereas they dipped as low as USD 160 and USD 120 mid-year. AN's premium over urea increased fuelled by strong demand from Brazil. There was no premium for UAN because of greater output in the United States and stronger competition.

In Q3 2017, NPK prices remained stable, increasing moderately in September following nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser prices. NPK's premium over the basic product basket (urea, DAP and potash) remained high.

Average Indicative Prices, USD/t, FOB Baltic Sea/Black Sea

Q3 2017

Q2 2017

Q3 2016

Q3 2017 /Q2 2017 change

Q3 2017 /Q3 2016 change

NPK 16-16-16

262

264

277

-0.8%

-5.5%

AN

184

168

147

+9.9%

+25.2%

UAN

126

137

127

-7.5%

-0.1%

Urea

205

191

181

+7.0%

+13.1%

Ammonia

199

284

210

-30.1%

-5.5%

The full version of Acron Group's financial statements is available at www.acron.ru/en

Note: The exchange rate used for currency conversion was RUB 58.0169 to USD 1 as of 30 September 2017 and RUB 60.6569 to USD 1 as of 31 December 2016. The average exchange rate for the first nine months of 2017 was RUB 58.3344 to USD 1. The average exchange rate for the first nine months of 2016 was RUB 68.3667 to USD 1.

* EBITDA is calculated as operating profit adjusted for depreciation and amortisation, foreign exchange gain or loss, and other non-cash and extraordinary items.

** LTM EBITDA is EBITDA calculated for the past 12 months.

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (VPC). It has a wholly owned transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic port terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron's subsidiary, North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP), holds mining licenses for 11 parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty, one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2016, the Group sold 6.4 million tonnes of various products to 63 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2016, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 89,359 million (USD 1,333 million) and net profit of RUB 25,525 million (USD 381 million). Acron's shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.